Overview
The subject of the submitted project is the research and development of methods and components for a new calibratable dynamic wheel load balance. There are calibratable weighbridges for detecting the gross vehicle weight at which the vehicle must halt for an allocated period. This kind of the measurement impairs the flow of traffic, and furthermore wheel load and axle loading cannot be determined. Thus the measured vehicle’s loading condition (right/left distribution, axle loading distribution – shift of cargo being a problem and a safety risk) is unknown. At present there are calibratable dynamic axle load balances, which can be ridden over with only a very low speed of max. 5 km/h. In addition, there are axle load balances, which, due to their obtainable class of accuracy render impossible legally binding measurements, and therefore are not suitable for public application.
The subject matter of the DRSG is the basic research for calibratable dynamic wheel load balances and their verification, as well as the prototypical testing in a potential future user’s infrastructure. The application of this technology will enable automated weight control processes at traffic control spots. There will be no additional delays for truck traffic as this process is conducted during traffic flow on the rejection lane. In this project the basics for the complete, automatic statistical documentation of truck weights up to the individual wheel load, as well as the integration into The ASFINAG telematics, in consideration of the given regulatory framework, are to be investigated and tested.
Technical scientific approach
The challenge is to detect long-term-stable, high-precision measuring results from trucks driving on the rejection lane, under any dynamic driving conditions and atmospheric conditions. By intelligent linkage and correlation of sensor-measuring results in due consideration of the dynamic vehicle model, the back calculation to quasi-static weights is aspired. This must be functional for all sorts of vehicle types (double trains, trailer bottom plates, single trucks) as well as for different loading conditions. The complexity of this task increases further due to interlinked dynamic systems and chaotic phenomena.
Economic factors
By achieving the aspired calibratability, preliminary screening of trucks which are not complying with the legal provisions concerning gross vehicle weight rating and axle load limit, and the actual weighing shall be integrated into one plant component and procedure. Thus the time required and the costs will be reduced substantially, whereas the efficiency of traffic control spots is increased considerably. This technology shall contribute to a more efficient use of the essential infrastructure, in terms of statistical data collection of freight-haulage on the road and enforcement of legal provisions, concerning vehicle weight and axle load. An additional benefit shall be achieved by the detection of asymmetrically loaded vehicles, which not only represent an extra risk for road safety, but also have strong economic effects due to the wearing down of a driving surface and therefore cause higher maintenance costs.
Funding
Results
Over the course of the project, the following milestones have been achieved:
- A prototype of a dynamic wheel load balance has been developed and installed.
- Tests on the performance showed a deviation of the measuring results from 1.5% to 3%.
- It was possible to generate a huge amount of data from the measurements.
- There is new experience about how to handle interference sources and how to eliminate them.
Findings of the study are published in a short presentation (German only) which is available online via the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) at:
www2.ffg.at/verkehr/file.php?id=285